Adorable + Exotic

Item #: SCP-4143

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: A sample of SCP-4143 is to remain at the Site-31-CDC under wide-vector containment protocols¹. 25 subjects afflicted with SCP-4143 are to be kept at site-31 for observation and testing. Subjects must be kept in a hermetically sealed wildlife containment chamber. Research into how to counteract SCP-4143 is currently ongoing.

A complete dossier on all behavioral changes related to SCP-4143 should be provided to all Foundation wildlife, game, and preservation outposts worldwide. Webcrawler AI ‘POSI’ is set to maintain an active protocol, flagging any visual evidence of SCP-4143 online.

In the event of a confirmed outbreak of SCP-4143, all infected subjects, along with all animal life within a 32,000 m2 radius will be terminated, and their remains incinerated.

Description: SCP-4143 is an anomalously engineered disease that alters, or completely suppresses an animals instincts towards self-preservation, predatory behavior, and selective social grouping.

Within a period of 3-8 days, SCP-4143 will selectively degrade the mental faculties of the host, causing them to revert to a juvenile state. In addition, new behavioral patterns emerge, resembling those of domestic canines, specifically puppies between 1-8 months of age.

Infection occurs through a currently unknown vector, but relies on proximity².Given enough time SCP-4143 has managed to jump all species barriers presented, excluding insects, certain breeds of chimp, and human beings. While subjects will seek out food, water, and shelter to a limited degree, their mental faculties will remain stunted. In controlled wilderness experiments, 100% of subjects afflicted by SCP-4143 perish within two weeks without active care taking.

When in the presence of humans, subjects will act docile, and only present aggressive or defensive posturing in harmless, playful ways. All species, including those in predator-prey relationships will form pack structures, grooming and playing with each other even to the point of starvation.

Animals afflicted by SCP-4143 will not mate under any circumstance, but can be artificially bred. Maternal and paternal instincts are not entirely suppressed by SCP-4143, and in many cases oxytocin production is more than doubled, causing them to "adopt" newborns of other species. Despite this, subjects will no longer employ aggressive behavior for protection of their young, merely warding off potential dangers with defensive posturing.

SCP-4143 was first discovered after several Level-1 employees of the Foundation submitted a report to Dr. Patel, site director of Site-14, about a YouTube channel rapidly gaining popularity. From 2012-2014, the channel “Adorable + Unbelievable" featured benign compilation videos such as “Cute Puppies being dumb for 10 minutes” and “Cats are Jerks TRY NOT TO LAUGH”. On October 17th, 2015, the channel was renamed “Adorable + Exotic”. Without any explanation or change in production value, videos began featuring endangered, often illegal-to-own animals acting well outside their behavioral norms, such as “Bald Eagle snuggling with baby mice NOT CLICKBAIT” and “Cheetah and Gazelle Best Friends! YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS!”

REVISE AND CONDENSE - MAKE IMAGE

TEST A

SUBJECT: SCP-4143-8 through SCP-4143-20 – Twelve (12) Red-fronted Gazelles (Eudorcas rufifrons), one (1) adult male wolf (Canis lupus) starved for 2 days.

TEST: This test is intended to establish the extent SCP-4143 on predator-prey relationships.

RESULTS: SCP-4143-8 through SCP-4143-20 approach the wolf without hesitation. Perceiving this as an act of aggression, the wolf assumes a defensive posture while growling. The gazelle appear to ignore these signals entirely, continuing to advance. The wolf leaps towards SCP-4143-09, biting into the jugular, causing the subject to expire from blood loss within 18 seconds. The wolf begins consuming the gazelle, periodically barking, and assuming defensive postures. All remaining gazelle appear oblivious to the present danger, and are even seen laying down in close proximity to the carcass.

Consumption of SCP-4143-09 seems to expedite infection. Two days after introduction, the wolf has been fully integrated into the gazelle herd, acting as a caretaker and playmate for many of the foals. Despite having received no other food source in this time, the wolf seems to refuse to consume, or interact with the gazelle carcass. Only after the meat has been stripped, diced, and re-introduced into the enclosure does the wolf approach, and consume it. Feeding is quick, and the wolf (now tagged as the new SCP-4143-09) is observed obsessively grooming itself afterwards.

TEST B

SUBJECT: SCP-4143-2 - One (1) Siberian tiger (panthera tigris altaica), SCP-4143-7 - One (1) adult black bear (ursus americanus), SCP-4143-4 - One (1) saltwater crocodile (crocodylus porosus), D-7613 - 39 year-old human woman.

TEST: Test is to establish if SCP-4143 can transmit to human beings. D-7613 was selected for their severely compromised immune system, along with heart and liver damage from opiate abuse. At the time of Test B, D-7613 had an estimated 8-14 days to live.

RESULTS: D-7613 is introduced into the enclosure and immediately expresses panic as SCP-4143-2, 7, and 4 approach. After several minutes, D-7613 visibly calms given the docile nature of the subjects. Within 30 minutes, D-7613 is sitting cross legged with the brown bear's head in it's lap, leaned up against the Siberian tiger, and rubbing the stomach of the saltwater crocodile, who had rolled onto its back and was wiggling out of enjoyment.

Testing continues for 5 days before terminating. D-7613 is transported to an isolated medical ward, where all tests show no signs of SCP-4143.

ADDENDUM: D-7613 expired 2 days following Test B from heart failure, unrelated to SCP-4143. A short testament was discovered, written on a diagnostics pad left by one of the doctors. "After all the mopping up after monsters and stuff, that was a really nice way to spend my last days. Thanks guys."

TEST C

SUBJECT: One (1) Killer Whale (Orcinus orca), SCP-4143-21 One (1) American Pelkin Duck (anas platyrhynchos)

TEST: One adult duck is introduced into the proximity range of the subject to deliberately infect them with SCP-4143. This test is to determine limitations of the species barrier, size barrier, and infectivity vector for aquatic life.

RESULTS 20 hours after the introduction of SCP-4143-21 Level 2 researcher Donovan approached the reinforced glass barrier to [REDACTED]

Cleanup of the site-31 aquatic containment unit is still underway. The whale, now designated SCP-4143-25, was observed still attempting to “nuzzle” what remained of researcher Donovan for several hours, even to the point of suffocation. Testing with aquatic creatures, and animals larger than 600kg suspended indefinitely."

REVAMP TEST A, REMOVE TABS AND ADD NEW FORMAT

Addendum:

Interviewed: Reese Osbourne

Interviewer: Dr. Terence Rutherford

Foreword: Mr. Osborne was a PhD student at Cambridge University with a double major in Biology and Biochemistry until dropping out in 2013. Since then, he has held a series of part-time jobs, living in his parents home (deceased as of 2006). Following dispatch orders from Dr. Patel, MTF Gamma-8 “Game Wardens” moved on the IP upload source of the “Adorable + Exotic”. Mr. Osbourne was apprehended, and the animals in his “filming pens” relocated to site-31.

<Begin Log, December 21st, 2018>

Dr. Rutherford: Good morning Reese. Would you like anything else before we start? Another coffee? Bagel?

Osbourne: Uh, no, thanks… this really isn't what I expected, y'know? I mean, you're all pretty chill. For G-men, I mean.

Dr. Rutherford: We don't work for the government, Reese. We're just scientists, just like you.

Osbourne: Yeah, well, those guys who showed up at my house didn't seem like "scientists". And I notice I'm still handcuffed.

Dr. Rutherford: And your lab was behind a hidden bookshelf, so I'm sure you understand "due precaution". Like you, we're just protecting our own innovations.

Osbourne: So then I'm, what, competition? Are you keeping me here so you can steal my work?

Dr. Rutherford: Not at all, Reece. We're actually big fans of your Youtube channel. Half my staff are subscribed to it! My personal favorite was the opossum riding with its babies on the back of a Panther. But, much as we enjoy the content, it's the underlying science that really interests us. We think you could have a big future here.

Mr. Osborne's sits up slightly straighter

Osbourne: Wait, so, you're like… recruiting me?

Dr. Rutherford: Possibly, Mr. Osbourne. This is all just preliminary right now. After all, you may just be the "producer" in the cinematic sense, not the biochemical one.

Osbourne: Wait, what? You- no no, dude, "Adorable + Exotic" is all my work. All of it. The videos, and the virus. You saw my lab, right? It took me years to cultivate and cross-breed those strains.

Dr. Rutherford: So you say, but where did you even get access to those strains of smallpox and measles? Not to mention the two or three other diseases we can’t even identify.

Osbourne: Well- alright, some of the "raw materials" were provided for me, but I did all the work! I just had a bit of… help, from some friends, or something.

Dr. Rutherford: Help? You make this sound like a harmless little pet project.

Osbourne: Heh, pet project. I get-

Dr. Rutherford: When were you first contacted by the "Gamers Against Weed"?

Mr. Osbourne tenses. After a few seconds, Dr. Rutherford adopts a more aggressive posture, dropping his smile, and leaning onto the interview table with clasped hands. Both parties stare at each other for several more seconds.

Osbourne: …Have you been spying on me? Did you hack me or something?
Dr. Rutherford: Please answer the question, Mr. Osbourne.

Osbourne: This isn't a recruitment thing at all, is it?

Dr. Rutherford: Do you know where or how the G.A.W. acquired these pathogens, and-

Mr. Osbourne stands, despite his handcuffs still being threaded through the table's shackle.

Osbourne: So it was all bullshit! You really are after my work! You're, like, patent thieves! Just like those big pharmaceutical companies! You guys have no right to-

Dr. Rutherford: Sit down Mr. Osbourne.

Mr. Osbourne looks around, noting the two guards with their hands on their holsters. He slowly lowers himself back into his seat.

Mr. Osbourne: Bunch of bullshit…

Dr. Rutherford: So long as we're all speaking our minds, Mr. Osbourne? I was told to make this… amicable. My superiors thought you'd respond better to some positive encouragement. But honestly? It made me physically ill comparing you to any kind of "scientist".

Dr. Rutherford leans back in his chair, a pencil gripped in his threaded fingers.

Dr. Rutherford: You engineered a horrifically infectious disease that chemically lobotomizes every creature it comes into contact with. The whole planetary ecosystem could have collapsed if you'd had a breach, which would have happened if a single mouse escaped that ramshackle clown-car you called a "lab".

Mr. Osbourne remains seated, simply staring back at Dr. Rutherford, eyes squinted.

Dr. Rutherford: … Are you hearing me? I'm saying you're not a scientist. You're not even a content creator. You're a short sighted, irresponsible-

Osbourne: It wasn’t going to GET out, alright!?

Mr. Osbourne slams his fists down onto the table. Both security officers take a step forward, but stop as Dr. Rutherford raises a hand.

Osbourne: My lab and my studio were perfectly sealed! Airlocks and everything! The only time there was any kind of "breach" was when YOUR agro space marines showed up!

Dr. Rutherford: Someone of your intelligence can’t possibly be this irresponsible-

Osbourne: Shut the fuck up!

Dr. Rutherford: Mr. Osbourne, if you could-

Osbourne: No! You want to know why I did this? I’m telling you. I WAS responsible! I worked and studied ALL the time. I didn't even have a fucking drink 'till I was 25! The only fun I ever had was making those compilation videos, and even that had to be a side-gig! Some fucking "adsense" revenue so I could afford a beer once a week! It wasn't supposed to be like this, damn it!

Mr. Osbourne takes a breath, then starts to shake, resting his head into his closed knuckles. 10 seconds of silence elapse.

Dr. Rutherford: So what happened?

Mr. Osbourne looks back up.

Osbourne: What?

Dr. Rutherford: You want to defend your choices? Fine. I'm listening.

Mr. Osbourne takes a few moments, studying Dr. Rutherford, before taking a deep breath, and beginning to speak again.

Mr. Osbourne: … about half-way through my PhD I got an email from one of my classmates. He’d graduated about a year before me, and I hadn’t heard from him since. I figured, y'know, he's busy. I was right! But it wasn't at some fortune 500 company making six figures, though. He was working at fucking Dunkin Donuts.

Everyone told me it was the right call. Never mind the money, and the stress, and the hundreds of hours hunched over a lab table. I'd all pay off in the end, right? After I got that email, It was like… it was like I'd been driving blind. It was a straight road, and everyone told me it'd lead somewhere good… but here I am, finally actually looking where I am, where the world is and… God, it's so fucked.

I checked in with a bunch of other recent grads, people in the industry, even my professors. All of them said- no, all of them admitted the same thing. We’re fucked!

The economy is fucked! Private sector, public sector, it doesn’t matter. There’s no money in science anymore. The government is cutting the budget for the sciences left and right, companies are just stealing each others innovations, and there are more grads than jobs by a factor of, like, ten. At least! Chances were I’d be making minimum wage when I graduated. With a PhD! Or, y’know, I could go academic, fight to get into teachers college, then grade papers for forty years while lying to another generation of ignorant, wide-eyed kids.

That night, after about three bottles of cheap wine, I ran some numbers. My stupid “Adorable + Pets” channel, if I worked on it exclusively, could earn me more money than a full-time entry level job. A youtube compilation channel about dumb animals. How fucked up is that? It's so fucked up. It's so fucking fucked up…

Mr. Osbourne slumps towards the table, propped up on his elbows. Dr. Rutherford signals at the camera, and a researcher enters with a fresh tray of coffee. Dr. Rutherford removes both cups, and slides one towards Mr. Osbourne.

Dr. Rutherford: I apologize for what I said before, Mr. Osbourne. Of course you realize how dangerous your creation is. It was uncouth to suggest otherwise.

Osbourne: … s'fine. I get it. It's just, y'know, a bit of a trigger word for me.

Dr. Rutherford: I understand. But, it should be clear we also appreciate it's destructive potential. We need facts, Reese, so we can put this all to bed. How did work on "Adorable + Exotic" actually start?

Osbourne: It-… god, fuck… just, one day these guys, the GAW guys, just contacted me over twitter. It wasn't even formal or anything, just like "Yo, nice vids. We think you can do more though" sort of thing… They didn't even capitalize or add punctuation or something. I thought it was a joke at first but then… and this is going to sound insane, but the stuff just started showing up in my garage!

Like, not just the samples. Animals. Leo- uh, the Tiger, and the whole aquarium- terrarium? Whatever, the place where I kept the otters? It just appeared. I'd leave the room, come back and… there it was. It was freaky, but after that fuckin' breakdown I'd just had? I don't know. I figured… why not? Why not actually just work on the channel full time? Plus, with all the equipment they were- er, "sending" me, I could actually put my degree to work. Since then I've just sort of… done it. I've tried not to think to hard about it, just enjoy being some kind of success, y'know? It felt good.

Dr. Rutherford:I see. Last question: the “Gamers Against Weed”, why did they do this? Did they ever give you an explanation?

Osbourne: No. I mean- sort of.

Dr. Rutherford: What did they say?

Osbourne: They- I mean, I don’t know if they had any sort of “covert” reason, or whatever but they told me-… They just said, well, they just said they liked my videos, and wanted to see more!

<End Log»

DEVELOP STRONGER TONE FOR CHARACTERS. PAD OUT TRANSITIONS, CONDENSE CONTENT.

Footnotes

1. For a complete load-out of these protocols, contact the Site-31 Center for Disease Control

2. Widest current transmission occurred between two subjects 30m apart